Augmentative control of drones

Abstract

A method may include monitoring location information associated with a drone. The method may also include comparing the location information with an authorized zone. The method may also include, based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone. The method may include, in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone. The location information may include at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving a zone declaration indicating a zone and a signature; 
 determining that the zone comprises an authorized zone based on the signature being authorized; 
 monitoring location information associated with a drone; 
 comparing the location information with the authorized zone; 
 based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and 
 in response to the violation, augmenting control of the drone to alter operation of the drone, 
 wherein the location information includes at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein augmenting control comprises causing the drone to adjust the flight path. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of the drone is based on a drone operation controller, and augmenting the control comprises overriding the drone operation controller. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the location information with the authorized zone comprises identifying the authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones based on a relative location of the authorized zone and the location information. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein augmenting control comprises causing the drone to hover. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authorized zone is indicated by a geographically addressed message. 
     
     
       8. A drone comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
 receiving a zone declaration indicating a zone and a signature; 
 determining that the zone comprises an authorized zone based on the signature being authorized; 
 operating flight of the drone using a drone operation controller; 
 monitoring location information of the drone; 
 comparing the location information with an authorized zone; 
 based on the comparison, determining a violation by the drone of a rule associated with the authorized zone; and 
 in response to the violation, overriding the drone operation controller to alter operation of the drone, 
 wherein the location information includes at least one of a current or predicted future location of the drone. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The drone of  claim 8 , wherein the location information is based on at least a flight path of the drone, and wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises altering the flight path. 
     
     
       10. The drone of  claim 9 , wherein the authorized zone is indicated by a geographically addressed message. 
     
     
       11. The drone of  claim 8 , wherein the zone declaration is received from a second drone. 
     
     
       12. The drone of  claim 8 , wherein comparing the location information with the authorized zone comprises identifying the authorized zone from a plurality of authorized zones based on a relative location of the authorized zone and the location information. 
     
     
       13. The drone of  claim 8 , wherein overriding the drone operation controller comprises causing the drone to hover. 
     
     
       14. A method comprising:
 receiving, via a first network, a zone declaration, the zone declaration comprising a definition of a zone and a digital signature; 
 determining that the zone declaration is authorized based on the digital signature indicating a known party; 
 adding the zone to a list of authorized zones; and 
 relaying the zone declaration via a second network, wherein the second network differs from the first network. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second network is an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network comprising a drone. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: augmenting control of a drone based on the zone declaration. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving a second zone declaration comprising a deletion of the zone and a second digital signature; 
 determining that the second zone declaration is authorized based on the second digital signature; 
 removing the zone from the list of authorized zones; and 
 relaying the second zone declaration. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving a list of parties authorized to define zones, the list of parties indicating the known party.